Upper and lower body exerciser

ABSTRACT

An exerciser includes two idle wheels rotatably supported on a base, two handles rotatably attached to a shaft of the base and coupled to one of the idle wheels with a coupling device, and two foot pedals rotatably attached to the base with a spindle and coupled to the other idle wheel, two electric generators coupled to the shaft and the spindle, and two magnetic brake devices for braking the idle wheels. The coupling device includes two sector gears attached to the handles, and two gear-and-pinions rotatably supported on a pivot pin, and two gears and two pinions rotatably attached to another pivot pin with unidirectional bearings, for continuously rotating the idle wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to an upper and lower body exerciser having a structure for allowing the users to train and to exercise both the upper and the lower muscle groups.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical exercisers have been developed and provided for training and exercising both the upper and the lower muscle groups of the users, and comprise a pair of crank supported foot pedals for being pedaled by the users, and a pair of handles for being pulled or pushed by the users.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,391 to Pitzen et al. discloses one of the typical upper and lower body exercisers also comprising a pair of crank supported foot pedals and a pair of handles for being operated or exercised by the users, to conduct two actions each incorporating a mechanical movement converting output of the user to rotational motion and thereby powering one of two electrical generators. The loads are coupled by the mechanical movements back to the user to provide resistance to the exercise effort. However, a complicated chain-and-sprocket coupling mechanism is required to couple the members or elements together, and the chain may have a good chance to be disengaged from the sprockets inadvertently, and the chain may not be easily reached by the users because the chain and the sprockets are deeply engaged within the exerciser.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,253 to Petersen discloses another typical upper and lower body exerciser comprising a shaft rotatably supported on a frame, two one-way clutches mounted on the shaft, and two pinions mounted on the one-way clutches respectively, and two bearing mechanisms and two racks mounted on the shaft and mounted between the pinions, for driving the shaft. However, the coupling between the one-way clutches and the pinions and the bearing mechanisms and the racks is complicated and may also greatly increase the manufacturing cost for the exerciser.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional upper and lower body exercisers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an upper and lower body exerciser including a structure for allowing the users to train and to exercise both the upper and the lower muscle groups.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exerciser comprising a base including a shaft supported thereon, a seat cushion supported on the base, for supporting a user thereon, two foot pedals rotatably attached to the base with cranks and a spindle, for being pedaled by the user, a first idle wheel rotatably supported on the base and coupled to the spindle, for being driven by the spindle, a first generator coupled to the spindle, for being driven by the spindle, a first magnetic brake device disposed beside the first idle wheel, for braking the first idle wheel, two handles rotatably attached to the shaft, for allowing the handles to be pushed and pulled by the user, a second idle wheel rotatably supported on the base, a second generator supported on the base, a second magnetic brake device disposed beside the second idle wheel, for braking the second idle wheel, and a coupling device for coupling the shaft to the second idle wheel and the second generator, to drive the second idle wheel and the second generator.

The coupling device includes two sector gears attached to the handles, and arranged to be rotated relative to the shaft by the handles respectively, a first pivot pin rotatably supported on the base, two first gears and two first pinions secured on the first pivot pin and rotated in concert with the first pivot pin, the first pinions being engaged with the sector gears respectively, a second pivot pin rotatably supported on the base and coupled to the second idle wheel and the second generator, for allowing the second idle wheel and the second generator to be rotated and driven by the second pivot pin, two second gears rotatably attached onto the second pivot pin with unidirectional bearings respectively, for allowing the second gears to be rotated unidirectionally relative to the pivot pin respectively, the second gears being meshed with the first gears respectively, and two second pinions rotatably attached onto the second pivot pin with unidirectional bearings respectively, for allowing the second pinions to be rotated unidirectionally relative to the pivot pin respectively, the second pinions are meshed with the sector gears respectively, the second idle wheel is rotated and driven continuously by the second pivot pin, via the second gears and the second pinions respectively, when the handles are pushed and pulled in reciprocating action by the user.

The second pivot pin includes a pulley secured thereon and coupled to the second idle wheel, for allowing the second idle wheel to be rotated and driven by the pulley. The second idle wheel is rotatably attached to the base with an axle, and the axle is coupled to the pulley with a belt. The second idle wheel includes a second pulley secured thereto and coupled to the second electric generator, to cause the second electric generator to generate electric energy.

The spindle includes a pulley secured thereon, and the first idle wheel is rotatably supported on the base and coupled to the pulley, for allowing the first idle wheel to be rotated and driven by the spindle via the pulley. The first idle wheel is rotatably attached to the base with an axle, and the axle is coupled to the pulley with a belt. The first idle wheel includes a second pulley secured thereto and coupled to the first generator, to cause the first generator to generate electric energy.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper and lower body exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan schematic view of the upper and lower body exerciser;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 1, in which a portion of the exerciser has been removed, for showing an inner structure of the exerciser;

FIG. 4 is a top plan schematic view of the upper and lower body exerciser as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial plan schematic view illustrating a gearing mechanism of the upper and lower body exerciser;

FIG. 6 is a top plan schematic view of the gearing mechanism of the upper and lower body exerciser as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the gearing mechanism of the upper and lower body exerciser as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view of the exerciser, taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, an exerciser in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 1 including a longitudinal skeleton 11, a front lateral beam 12, and a rear lateral beam 13 secured together, to form a solid and stable structure for the base 1, and including a post 14 extended upwardly from the front portion of the base 1, and having a control panel and/or a control device 15 disposed thereon.

The base 1 further includes one or more, such as three struts 170, 171, 172 extended upwardly from the middle portion of the base 1, and a track 17 disposed or attached on top of the struts 170-172, for slidably supporting a saddle or seat cushion 18 thereon which includes a seat back 19 extended upwardly from the rear portion thereof, for engaging with or for supporting the rear or back portions of the users.

A column 20 is further provided and also extended upwardly from the front portion of the base 1, and having a short stud 21 secured or disposed on top of the column 20, and a plate 22 attached or secured to the short stud 21 and/or extended from the column 20. A spindle 23 is rotatably attached to the column 20 and/or the plate 22 and/or to the short stud 21, and two foot pedals 26, 27 attached to the spindle 23 with two cranks 24, for allowing the foot pedals 26, 27 to be pedaled or stepped by the users to conduct the conventional cycling exercises.

A further column 28 may be extended upwardly from the front portion of the base 1, for supporting the post 14 thereon, a pulley 31 may be attached to or secured to the spindle 23, and rotated in concert with the spindle 23, for allowing the pulley 31 to be rotated or driven by the foot pedals 26, 27. A weight or idle wheel 32 is rotatably attached or supported on the column 28 with such as an axle 320 (FIG. 2), which is coupled to the pulley 31 with a belt 33 or the like, for allowing the weight or idle wheel 32 also to be rotated or driven by the foot pedals 26, 27.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the weight or idle wheel 32 includes another pulley 321 extended or disposed on one side thereof, and coupled to an electric generator 4 with such as a belt 41 or the like, for allowing the electric generator 4 to generate electric energy for further use. A magnetic brake device 34 may be attached to and/or disposed beside the weight or idle wheel 32, for braking the weight or idle wheel 32.

A shaft 5 is attached or rotatably supported on the base 1, and/or attached to the strut 170. Two handles 51, 52 each includes a hand grip 510, 520 formed or provided on top thereof, for being grasped or held by the users, and each includes a coupler or hub 511, 521 formed or provided on the lower portion thereof, for rotatably coupling or attaching to the shaft 5, and for allowing the handles 51, 52 to be pushed or pulled and/or operated by the users.

Two ducts 60, 61 are also rotatably coupled or attached to the shaft 5, and/or secured to the couplers or hubs 511, 521 of the handles 51, 52 respectively, for allowing the ducts 60, 61 to be rotated or driven relative to the shaft 5 by the handles 51, 52 respectively. The ducts 60, 61 each includes a sector gear 62, 63 attached thereto or extended therefrom and each having a gear rack 621, 631 formed or provided thereon, such that the sector gears 62, 63 may also be rotated or driven relative to the shaft 5 by the handles 51, 52 respectively.

Two pivot pins 70, 80 may be rotatably attached to or supported on the base 1, or rotatably attached to the struts 170, 171 directly, or indirectly with a board 173 respectively, and each includes two gears 71, 73; and 81, 83 disposed thereon (FIG. 4), and two pinions 72, 74; and 82, 84 disposed thereon, in which the pinions 72, 74 are solidly secured to or coupled to or formed integral with the gears 71, 73 respectively (FIGS. 4-7), and in which the pinions 72, 74; and 82, 84 are engaged with the gear racks 621, 631 of the sector gears 62, 63 respectively, and the gears 71 and 81, 73 and 83 are engaged with each other.

As best shown in FIG. 8, the gears 81, 83 and the pinions 82, 84 are separated from each other, and are rotatably attached or secured to the pivot pin 80 with one or more retaining or clamping rings 88, and are rotatably attached to the pivot pin 80 with unidirectional bearings 810, 820 respectively, for allowing the gears 81, 83 and the pinions 82, 84 to be rotated unidirectionally relative to the pivot pin 80 respectively. A pulley 86 is attached to or secured to the pivot pin 80 (FIGS. 1-4 and 8), and rotated in concert with the pivot pin 80.

The unidirectional bearings 810, 820 of the gear 81 and the pinion 82 are arranged to allow the gear 81 and the pinion 82 to be rotated freely relative to the pivot pin 80 in one or reverse direction, such as when rotated counterclockwise relative to the pivot pin 80 respectively, but to allow the gear 81 and the pinion 82 to be rotated in concert with the pivot pin 80 when rotated clockwise, or to allow the pivot pin 80 to be rotated or driven in the other direction or the active direction, such as clockwise by either the gear 81 or the pinion 82.

Another weight or idle wheel 92 is rotatably attached or supported on the base 1 or on the rear strut 172 with such as an axle 920 (FIG. 2), which is coupled to the pulley 86 with a belt 93 or the like, for allowing the weight or idle wheel 92 also to be rotated or driven by the pivot pin 80. As also shown in FIG. 2, the weight or idle wheel 92 includes another pulley 921 extended or disposed or secured on one side thereof, and coupled to another electric generator 9 with such as a belt 91 or the like, for allowing the electric generator 9 to generate electric energy for further use. A magnetic brake device 90 may be attached to and/or disposed beside the weight or idle wheel 92, for braking the weight or idle wheel 92. A front housing or cap 16 and/or a rear housing or cap 161 may further be provided and attached onto the base 1, for enclosing or shielding the parts or elements, particularly the rotatable members.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, when one of the handles, such as the left handle 51 is pushed forwardly or pushed or moved away from the saddle or seat cushion 18, the sector gear 62 will be rotated counterclockwise and will cause the pinions 72, 82 to rotate clockwise. At this moment, the clockwise rotating pinion 82 may rotate or cause the pivot pin 80 to also rotate clockwise, in order to rotate or to drive the weight or idle wheel 92 to rotate in one direction, such as to rotate clockwise.

The clockwise rotating pinion 72 may rotate or cause the gear 71 to also rotate clockwise, because the gear 71 and the pinion 72 are solidly secured together and are rotated in concert with each other. The clockwise rotating gear 71 may then cause the other meshed gear 81 to rotate counterclockwise, and the counterclockwise rotating gear 81 may be rotated freely relative to the pivot pin 80 and may not rotate or drive the pivot pin 80 at this moment.

On the contrary, when the left handle 51 is pulled rearwardly or pulled or moved toward the saddle or seat cushion 18, the sector gear 62 will be rotated clockwise and will cause the pinions 72, 82 to rotate counterclockwise. At this moment, the counterclockwise rotating pinion 82 may be rotated freely relative to the pivot pin 80 and may not rotate or drive the pivot pin 80 and thus may not rotate or cause the weight or idle wheel 92 to rotate.

Simultaneously, at this moment, the counterclockwise rotating pinion 72 may rotate or cause the gear 71 to also rotate counterclockwise, because the gear 71 and the pinion 72 are solidly secured together and are rotated in concert with each other. The counterclockwise rotating gear 71 may then cause the other meshed gear 81 to rotate clockwise, and the clockwise rotating gear 81 may rotate or cause the pivot pin 80 to also rotate clockwise, in order to rotate or to drive the weight or idle wheel 92 to also rotate clockwise.

Accordingly, when the left handle 51 is pushed forwardly or pushed or moved away from the saddle or seat cushion 18, the clockwise rotating pinion 82 may cause the pivot pin 80 to also rotate clockwise, and then to rotate or to drive the weight or idle wheel 92. The counterclockwise rotating gear 81 will rotate freely relative to the pivot pin 80. Simultaneously, the right handle 52 will be pulled rearwardly or pulled or moved toward the saddle or seat cushion 18, and the counterclockwise rotating pinion 84 may be rotated freely relative to the pivot pin 80, and the clockwise rotating gear 83 may cause the pivot pin 80 to also rotate clockwise, and then to rotate or to drive the weight or idle wheel 92.

Consequently, when the left handle 51 is pushed forwardly and when the right handle 52 is pulled rearwardly, both the clockwise rotating pinion 82 and the clockwise rotating gear 83 may be used to rotate or drive the weight or idle wheel 92 via the pivot pin 80. On the contrary, when the left handle 51 is pulled rearwardly and when the right handle 52 is pushed forwardly, both the clockwise rotating pinion 84 and the clockwise rotating gear 81 may be used to rotate or drive the weight or idle wheel 92 via the pivot pin 80.

The weight or idle wheel 92 may thus be continuously rotated by the handles 51, 52 when the handles 51, 52 are pushed forwardly and pulled rearwardly in reciprocating action, and the electric generator 9 may also be continuously powered by the rotation of the weight or idle wheel 92, and may thus be caused to continuously generate electric energy for further use, such as for energizing or operating the magnetic brake device 90, for example. The specially designed sector gears 62, 63 and the pinions 72, 74; and 82, 84 and the gears 71, 73; and 81, 83 may cause the weight or idle wheel 92 to be continuously rotated by the handles 51, 52.

Similarly, when the foot pedals 26, 27 are pedaled or stepped by the users continuously to conduct the conventional cycling exercises, the weight or idle wheel 32 may also be continuously rotated by the foot pedals 26, 27, in order to rotate or to drive the electric generator 9 to continuously generate electric energy for further use, such as for energizing or operating the magnetic brake device 34, for example.

Accordingly, the exerciser in accordance with the present invention includes an upper and lower body exerciser including a structure for allowing the users to train and to exercise both the upper and the lower muscle groups.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. An exerciser comprising: a base including a shaft supported thereon, a seat cushion supported on said base, for supporting a user thereon, two foot pedals rotatably attached to said base with cranks and a spindle, for being pedaled by the user, a first idle wheel rotatably supported on said base and coupled to said spindle, for being driven by said spindle, a first generator coupled to said spindle, for being driven by said spindle, a first magnetic brake device disposed beside said first idle wheel, for braking said first idle wheel, two handles rotatably attached to said shaft, for allowing said handles to be pushed and pulled by the user, a second idle wheel rotatably supported on said base, a second generator supported on said base, a second magnetic brake device disposed beside said second idle wheel, for braking said second idle wheel, and coupling means for coupling said shaft to said second idle wheel and said second generator, to drive said second idle wheel and said second generator.
 2. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes two sector gears attached to said handles, and arranged to be rotated relative to said shaft by said handles respectively, a first pivot pin rotatably supported on said base, two first gears and two first pinions secured on said first pivot pin and rotated in concert with said first pivot pin, said first pinions being engaged with said sector gears respectively, a second pivot pin rotatably supported on said base and coupled to said second idle wheel and said second generator, for allowing said second idle wheel and said second generator to be rotated and driven by said second pivot pin, two second gears rotatably attached onto said second pivot pin with unidirectional bearings respectively, for allowing said second gears to be rotated unidirectionally relative to said pivot pin respectively, said second gears being meshed with said first gears respectively, and two second pinions rotatably attached onto said second pivot pin with unidirectional bearings respectively, for allowing said second pinions to be rotated unidirectionally relative to said pivot pin respectively, said second pinions are meshed with said sector gears respectively, said second idle wheel is rotated and driven continuously by said second pivot pin, via said second gears and said second pinions respectively, when said handles are pushed and pulled in reciprocating action by the user.
 3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second pivot pin includes a pulley secured thereon and coupled to said second idle wheel, for allowing said second idle wheel to be rotated and driven by said pulley.
 4. The exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second idle wheel is rotatably attached to said base with an axle, and said axle is coupled to said pulley with a belt.
 5. The exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second idle wheel includes a second pulley secured thereto and coupled to said second electric generator, to cause said second electric generator to generate electric energy.
 6. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spindle includes a pulley secured thereon, and said first idle wheel is rotatably supported on said base and coupled to said pulley, for allowing said first idle wheel to be rotated and driven by said spindle via said pulley.
 7. The exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first idle wheel is rotatably attached to said base with an axle, and said axle is coupled to said pulley with a belt.
 8. The exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first idle wheel includes a second pulley secured thereto and coupled to said first generator, to cause said first generator to generate electric energy. 